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What does unlocking a phone do?

Harper77

Harper77

Well-Known Member
Just wondering - what exactly is "unlocking" an Android phone? What does it do? Why would someone want to do it?
 
Greetings Harper77,

Unlocking the phone will allow you to use different sim card in it if your over seas.

If your on AT&T in america, unlocking a global phone would allow you to use your phone say in Europe with one of their sim cards.
 
I don't think so, I think the biggest use of unlocking, is to allow your phone to work on other supported carriers.

Now you mention unlocking, but there is a feature known as rooting, which is something else. Rooting allows you to have full control over your phone, well mostly depending on manufacturer. With rooting, you can get rid of the unnecessary apps that the phone companies install that you normally can't remove. As well as a host of other things.

So again, unlocking the phone is basically for using it on another carrier.

Hope this helps
 
Which is why I love Nokia phones, beside from durable hardwares, their higher end ones that uses SIM works with all (gsm) carriers out of the box. They really missed the mark recently though.
 
someguy43210 said:
Which is why I love Nokia phones, beside from durable hardwares, their higher end ones that uses SIM works with all (gsm) carriers out of the box. They really missed the mark recently though.
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This has nothing to do with Nokia or Android. Its has to do with where you bought your phone. If you get your phone off a network provider, its network locked, whether its Nokia, Samsung, HTC or whatever. I got an Android Galaxy SL unlocked out of the box because I did not buy it off a carrier, as I bought direct from the Samsung Concept Store. Same thing if I get a Nokia off my provider, I wont be able to use another network's sim on it unless I unlock it.
 
hello
i have a question. is there a way i can unlock my phone online?
my dad told me i could get one and im excited but we are on at&t and the htc sensation
is on tmobile..
so plz reply ASAP
Thankss
 
I got sweet deal on a Rogers (Canada) Captivate last spring, brand new, never been used for $200.

I am a Telus customer and had NO intention of switching over to Rogers.

For $7.99 I got an unlock code emailed to me so I could pop in a Telus SIM card and use it. Otherwise it would only accept a Rogers SIM.

There are tons of places on the web to get these codes, some are more expensive than others. I used Cellunlocker.net - The #1 Phone Unlocking Site on the Internet

I think you can get the unlock code from the original carrier, but as far as I know, Telus etc. charges $50 for that. $7.99 was MUCH easier to swallow.
 
I just found out that the good folks over at XDA forums have developed a number of FREE sim-unlock utilities. Just use the search feature to find out if it's available for your phone.

unlock - Google Search
 
Did you miss the part where I said I paid $7.99?

No, definitely not laughing. And I also own a samsung, but it is not old (less than a year)
 
Diesel bud said:
Did you miss the part where I said I paid $7.99?

No, definitely not laughing. And I also own a samsung, but it is not old (less than a year)
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Relax, that was not directed at you. "yer 'avin a laugh..." is a cockney turn of phrase used to express shock and disbelief, in this case at the price. (In true cockney slang it would be "yer 'avin a bubble". Bubble bath -> laugh.)

Anyway, I assume the model/network factor into the price but either way we've got free solutions available so it's all good.
 
some please answer this, it may be a stupid question when u unlock your phone do you not have to pay a monthly bill anymore. Also i have a my touch 4g slide android version 2.3.4 htc sense 3.0 Someone out please tell me the eaistest way to root it, i try to follow directions on youtube something always goes wrong. I need a root for dummies guide, i did turn my girlfriends nook color in a tablet but she can no longer order books. help
 
joeyb1983 said:
some please answer this, it may be a stupid question when u unlock your phone do you not have to pay a monthly bill anymore. Also i have a my touch 4g slide android version 2.3.4 htc sense 3.0 Someone out please tell me the eaistest way to root it, i try to follow directions on youtube something always goes wrong. I need a root for dummies guide, i did turn my girlfriends nook color in a tablet but she can no longer order books. help
Click to expand...


If you're signed up for a monthly pre-paid contract I think you'd still have to pay that contract regardless of whether you unlock the phone. Even if you took the sim card out and left it in a draw, you're still tied in with that contract.
 
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